Brian Span looks to be in Finland on trial with IFK Mariehamn after being waived by FC Dallas last week. Span has European experience with Swedish side Djurgården in 2012 and 2013. He returned to the US with FC Dallas in 2014, but spent most of his time in USL Pro with Orlando City on loan or with FC Dallas’ reserve team.

I posted last week with a link about how Kevin Garcia was making the move to Ireland with Galway FC. Someone in Ireland e-mailed me that it is not true (“was news to the press officer”). Also, Jake Keegan isn’t with the club either at the moment as he is still waiting for a work permit. And former Yale and Portland Timbers U-23 defender Andy Hackbarth is on trial with the club.

With all the accolades for Norway Eliteserien Champions Molde, and USMNT/Molde forward Josh Gatt, lost in the noise is the promotional playoff situation for teams in Norway’s First Division.

While Eliteserien has one more week of the regular season left, the First Division is complete and now moves on to promotion/relegation playoffs. While the Eliteserien relegation picture will not be decided until this weekend, the First Division promotional playoffs start today.

How it Works

The Eliteserien will relegate three teams. Stabaek are relegated already, while three other teams are trying to stave off relegation (one will be automatically relegated). The team finishing above the bottom two will enter into the relegation playoff.

The First Division will promote three teams. Start and Sarpsborg 08 are promoted already. The four teams (places three through six) now enter the promotional playoff. Sandefjord #3, Mjondalen #4, Bodo/Glimt #5 and Ullensaker #6, will play the first round today followed by the final qualifier this weekend.

#4 Mjondalen v #5 Bodo/Glimt

#3 Sandefjord v #6 Ullensaker

The winner of the final qualifier will then play the Eliteserien team that qualified as relegation playoff.

US Player Involvement

Two of the four teams vying for the First Division promotion playoffs have US players:

#4 Mjondalen Rhett Bernstein and Kyle Helton

#6 Ullensaker Kenneth Di Vita Jensen

Fourth place Mjondalen gets to play at home and will be favorites to advance. Ullensaker, who went through a mini-collapse at the end of the regular season, will have to visit third place Sandefjord.

At the bottom

A number of US players leave First Division with their clubs due to relegation to Second Division.